I shan't say a word. A fellow shouldn't take the piss out of the afflicted I don't suppose, anyway it would be like........
...and what kind of sport would that be?
Murder trial detective 'made sexual gestures to juror'
A major murder trial almost collapsed after a detective allegedly made "suggestive sexual gestures" to a female juror, it has been revealed.
Published: 5:23PM BST 28 May 2010
Det Con Ivor Messiah, was said to have "puckered his lips" in a kiss and "flirted" with the woman, a brunette in her mid-thirties, across a packed courtroom.
The Leicestershire officer also allegedly made a ring with the fingers of one hand - which he then poked with the index finger of the other.
The juror later asked one of his colleagues to pass him a note with her mobile phone number during a break in the case - but he refused, and reported the matter to the judge.
The Nottingham Crown Court trial, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds which was nine days old at the time, was instantly halted while an investigation was carried out.
Frances Oldham QC, defending John Cort, a solicitor accused of murdering his business partner, argued that the entire jury should be discharged.
But after four days of legal argument, which included DC Messiah and the juror, known as Miss X, giving evidence, it was eventually decided the case could continue.
But the woman, and a fellow juror left "upset and confused" by what had happened were discharged, and the case continued with just ten jurors.
The extraordinary incident took place on April 29, but reporting restrictions meant the details couldn't be revealed until the end of the trial today.
Cort, and his co-accused Brian Farrell, were convicted of murder solicitor Vina Patel, a partner in Cort's law firm, to get a £1.5m insurance payout and both jailed for life.
In her ruling, Mrs Justice Dobbs said the juror had noticed DC Messiah, smiling at her from the public gallery on the "third or fourth day" of the trial.
The judge added: "After that there was eye contact. She was not looking for it to happen, and was not sure what to make of it.
" She got the impression he wanted her number. He had made a hand movement, like a phone, to his ear.
"This happened on the Wednesday. She wrote her number on a piece of paper on the Thursday morning 15 minutes before the morning break, in case she bumped into him.
Mrs Justice Dobbs said the woman spotted DC Messiah during the break but he appeared to be busy.
So she gave the note to a man she'd seen sitting with him in the public gallery - his colleague, a detective sergeant - and asked him to pass it on.
But he refused, and the woman returned to the jury room, ripped the note up, and threw it away.
It was later recovered by court staff after DC Messiah's colleague reported the incident.
Another female juror gave evidence, and told the hearing that Miss X had told her that someone in the public gallery was "flirting with her".
The juror said that she saw DC Messiah smiling at Miss X, and "pucker his lips as if he were blowing her a kiss".
The judge's ruling concluded by saying: "All jurors are fully aware of the allegations he (DC Messiah) had made suggestive gestures of a sexual nature.
"All were asked if they felt able to continue. All, save one, said 'yes'.
"A male juror said he felt upset and confused by what had happened. Both he and Miss X were discharged."
DC Messiah, who interviewed members of the 'Tapas Seven' as part of the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance, has not been in court since the resumption of the trial.
However, in her ruling, Mrs Justice Dobbs said he claimed he had "no contact with the juror" and "could not be the person" who had gestured to her.
Deputy Chief Constable Gordon Fraser said: "This matter was brought to the Judge's attention during the trial and as a result two jury members were dismissed. "The trial continued and resulted in a successful conviction.
"The Force demands the highest standard of professionalism from all staff and will thoroughly investigate any allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
"The Force's Professional Standards Department will now investigate the alleged incident and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time." Telegraph
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